The Alvar Aalto Museum project started in 1966 when the Alvar Aalto Museum association was established. The idea for a museum had been discussed as early as in the 1950s. Alvar Aalto was chosen as architect of the project and the collection of Ester and Jalo Sihtola art foundation was placed as a part of the permanent collection of the museum. The building was completed in 1973. It represents, together with the Museum of Central Finland, Alvar Aalto’s white era.

During the renovation of the Alvar Aalto -museum, an extension is built to unite the Aalto museum and the Museum of Central Finland. The entrance hall and surrounding spaces, main stairway, and the second-floor exhibition hall are preserved with little alterations. The more prominent changes take place in the back of the building on the first floor, where some storage rooms are turned into meeting rooms and the extension that serves as an exhibition space. The museum shop, that serves both of the museums, will also take place in the extension.

The extension improves the accessibility of the Alvar Aalto -museum, since the elevator of the Museum of Central Finland will tend to the users of the Alvar Aalto museum after the museums are connected.

Some prominent alterations are made to improve the indoor air quality, technical installations, and the structures that are in poor condition. A new underground ventilation plant room is built to channel the installations mainly through base floor.